The answer is yes for one California state senator who has been told to stop hugging people.

The mandate was given to Sen. Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, after an investigation found that his hugs — for which he was well known among colleagues — made more than one female coworker and one male sergeant-at-arms uncomfortable.

The Senate Rules Committee found his hugs were not intended to be sexual and are not always unwelcome, but it told him to stop the greetings, which have earned him the nicknames “Hugsberg” and “Huggy Bear,” according to The Associated Press.

Hertzberg was under investigation for four complaints about the behavior dating back to 2010.

The senator released a letter to friends and colleagues on Thursday apologizing to anyone who felt his hugs had been unwelcome.

“All my life, a hug has been my way of greeting friends and colleagues — a gesture of warmth and kindness and a reflection of my exuberance,” the letter says. “I understand that I cannot control how a hug is received, and that no everyone has the ability to speak up about unwelcome behavior. It is my responsibility to be mindful of this.”

Three California lawmakers have resigned over allegations of sexual misconduct in recent months and, in February, the Los Angeles Times reported that the there are more ongoing investigations in the Capitol than at any time in recent history.

Employers and employees in many industries have been zeroing in on the subject of sexual misconduct and worker interactions in the wake of allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and the many men and women who have since been accused of misconduct and lost their jobs over it.

Check out some of the think pieces that have been written recently over the issue of hugging.

The issue of hugging coworkers has been discussed in earnest on Twitter where some people recounted positive stories of hugging or being hugged by coworkers, and others reported unpleasant experiences.

For others, the question remains.

What are your thoughts about hugs in the work place? Send us a tweet to @sdutideas and we may add your opinion to this page.